Back-band buckle



(No Model.)

J. S. BROWN. BACK BAND BUCKLE.

Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

Iiewian /Zgmiahrmm I f UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JOHN STODDART BROVN, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

BACK-BAND BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 581,193, dated April 20, 1897. Application filed January 26, 1897. Serial No. 620,801. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN STODDART BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Back-Band Buckles, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention relates to back-band buckles, and has forits objects to provide an improved construction of the buckle-lever and the hook thereon for connecting the buckle with the trace-chain, and also to provide eccentrics on the holdfasts or journaling portions of the buckle-lever, whereby the lever-hook is caused to snap into position and is held secure in a plane substantially flush with the lower portion of the buckle-frame when the buckle is closed by the forcing down of the lever.

The invention consists in features of construction and novel combinations of parts comprised in a combined back-band buckle and hook, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of myimproved back-band buckle and hook in position on the back-band and connected with a trace-chain. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig.4isaperspectiveof thcframe or base-plate of the buckle.

Referring now in detail to the construction villustrated in the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the buckle-frame or metal baseplate, in which are formed the two parallel and transverse slots or serrated openings 2 and 3, that are provided for passage of the back-band 4E of a harness. The upper slot 2 is provided along its top edge with depending serrations or teeth 5, and similar gripteeth or serrations 6 are arranged to project forward from the lower edge of said upper slot. Along the upper edge of the lowerslot 3 are depending serrations or teeth 7, similar to those on the top edge of the upper slot. These serrations 5, 6, and 7 are preferably formed by stamping from the base-plate or buckle-frame.

At each end of the upper serrated slot 2 are formed two perforations 8, arranged in vertical lines. These perforations 8 are provided for the passage of loop-shaped holdfasts 9, which are formed on the ends of the upper portion of a pivotal buckle-lever 10, that is designed to grip the buckle onto the back-band. It will be observed by reference to the drawings that the back-band 4 enters the upper buckle-slot 2 from the rear, passing beneath the serrations and then forward and downward over the forward-projecting grip-teeth G, thence along the front of the buckle-frame to the lower slot 3, and rearward through the same beneathits serrations 7, and thence downward at the back of the buckle. Thus at both of the slots 2 and 3 the back-band 4 is brought into binding engagement with the slot serrations.

In the upper portion of the buckle-lever 10 is a transversely-arranged series of preferably rectangular perforations 11, that are adapted to coincide or register with the forward-projecting grip-teeth 6 of the upper buckle-slot 2`when the said buckle-lever is forced downward to normal gripping position. By the gripping of the back-band between these teeth 6 and perforations 11 the buckle is securely held at any adjusted elevation without any possibility of slipping. The buckle-lever l0 is secured in its locked or turned-down position by means of eccentrics l2 on the rear portions of the looped hold- -fasts 9, said eccentrics being arranged to bear against the rear surface of the buckle-frame 1 between the perforations S when the bucklelever is forced down to locking position.

The lower portion of the buckle-lever 10 is formed into a hook 1.3,that is curved rearward toward the plane of the buckle-frame, below which it extends, and then upward,and finally forward at its upper end. This hook 13 is provided for engagement with a link of the trace-chain 14, and by proper adjustment of the buckle on the back-band the trace-chain may be readily supported at any required elevation. At its yrear side the hook 13 is substantially flush with the buckle frame or plate 1 when the buckle-lever 10 is turned down to locking position, and thus by the construction and location of this hook there is no liability to disengagement of the trace or trace-chain. The locking-pressure exerted by the eccentrics 12 will hold the buckle-lever 10 and connected integral hook 13 in firm IOO operative position unaffected by strain on the traces and with no slipping ofthe buckle upon the back-band.

This back-band buckle and hook can be easily and quickly adjusted to any required elevation of the trace-chains, the traces can be quickly attached or disconnected, and the buckle presents no prominent projections that would be likely to chate or injure the animal.

Vhat l claim as my invention isl. A back-band buckle composed of a frame or plate having parallel transverse slots provided with serrated edges, a buckle-lever provided at both ends of its upper portion with looped holdfasts engaged in perforations of the buckle-frame and provided with eccentrics to bear against the said frame and secure the lever in its turned-down and locked position, and a trace-supporting hook integral with the lower portion of the buckle-le ver and adapted to occupy a position substantially Hush with the buckle-frame when the lever is locked down, substantially as described.

2. A back-band buckle composed of a frame or plate provided with two parallel transverse slots having their upper edges serrated, the upper one of said slots being also provided along its lower edge with forward-projecting grip-teeth, a buckle-lever having perforations to register with said grip-teeth, holdfasls on the upper portion of said buckle-lever engaged in perforations of thebuckle-irame and provided with eccentrics to bear against said trame and lock the buckle-lever in aturneddown position, and a trace-supporting hookv integral with the lower portion of the said lever, substantially as described.

3. A back-band buckle composed ofa frame or plate provided with two parallel transverse slots having serrated edges and perforations formed in said plate at the ends of the upper slot, a buckle-lever provided at both ends of its upper portion with looped holdfasts engaged in said perforations, eceentrics on said holdfasts to bear against the buckle-frame and secure the said lever in a turned-down or locked position, and a rearward and upward turned trace-supporting hook integral with the lower portion of the buckle-lever and adapted to occupy a position substantially flush with the buckle-frame on the turning down of the buckle-lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN STODDART BRCNVN.

Vitnesscs:

ROBERT INGRAM, HARRY D. RIGBY. 

